Tthe origin of the Lantern Festival and The Pure Brightness Festival

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The Fifteenth day of the first lunar month is an important traditional festival in China.Members of a family get together to mark the occasion.This festival dated back to the Warring States Period，when people observed the custom of watching lanterns under moonlight.At first，they did this on the day for offering sacrifices to the Sun God，who was known as the Lord of the East.It is said that people began to mark the Lantern Festival in the Han Dynasty.According to ancient Chinese history，after the death of Liu Ying（Han Emperor Hui），the Queen Li monopolized the power of the state，and placed Li’s family persons in keygovernmental positions.However，after her death，Zhou Bo，Chen Ping and others then jointly got rid of Queen Lu’s powers and made Liu Heng the new emperor of the Han Dynasty.

Because Zhou Bo and Chen Ping drove the Li’s relatives and officials out of power on the fifteenth day of the first month，the emperor would leave his palace in civilian dress that night every year to celebrate the festival with the people on the streets.In ancient times，the word ye（night）and xiao（evening）were synonyms，and the first month of a year was called the yuan（primary）month.Therefore，Emperor Wen named the fifteenth day of the first month the Lantern Festival.

What is the Pure Brightness Festival？

The Qingming Festival（Pure and Bright Festival）has been one of the most popular festivals in China for thousands of years.On the day，people go and pay respects to ancestors at their tombs.The festival takes place in early spring，when all life begins to renew.It is also a good time for outings.

The festival originates in the Spring and Autumn Period.At that time，Duke Wenof the State of Jin was forced to live in exile for 19 years，but later he became king of the state with the help of Duke Mu of the State of Qin.

Duke Wen rewarded those who followed him in his exile according to their merits.On of these，Jie Zitui，decided not to accept wealth and a high position.He preferred to live a secluded life with his mother on Mountain Mianshan. The duke personally went to look for Jie Zitui there，but even after several days，hecouldn’t find him.He knew that Jie Zitui loved his mother deeply and would come out with his mother if he set the mountain on fire.This he did，and for three days and nights，the fire kept burning，until it finally reduced the whole area to ashes.

Unfortunately，however，Jie and his mother were found burnt to death.It turned out that he would rather die than accept a reward.The duke was very sad.He had Jie and his mother buried on the mountain，and he gave an order that every year on theanniversary of Jie’s death，all the citizens of his state should put out theirkitchen fire and eat cold food prepared beforehand.Later，this became a day on which people customarily swept and cleaned the tombs of their ancestors and mourned the dead.This custom continues until today.